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Tuesday, April 16, 2013

I received an email recently from Scrapgirls.com President, Debbie Cleek, asking if I might consider promoting a great cause her company is involved with. Scrapgirls is all about Digital Scrapbooking, something I have a heart for as I’m a “retired” designer (meaning I create but don’t sell at an official store - just give it all away at the moment) and further, I love to support anything that makes the world a better place.

Scrapgirls “SIMPLER TIMES” Charity Kit

Here is the Press Release for this project:

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOKERS SAVE LIVES ONE KIT AT A TIME

Collections created for Food for the Poor provide clean drinking water to thousands

Preserving memories is a passion for digital scrapbookers, but this April they will be helping to preserve something else – human lives. On April 1st Scrap Girls Digital Scrapbooking will release their bi-annual charity kit, with a full 100% of the sales from this kit donated to Food for the Poor. The money raised by this kit will go toward digging wells in some of the poorest regions in the world. This is the ninth year that Scrap Girls has created a kit for Food for the Poor and to date their efforts have supported the digging of 13 wells in countries all over the Caribbean and Latin America, most recently in earthquake-damaged Haiti.

This bi-annual tradition was started by Scrap Girls founder, Rozanne Paxman, who felt that “nothing you can do helps a community as much as helping them to have their own well. Not only does it make their lives easier, it decreases mortality significantly.” According to Food for the Poor, 4500 children die every day from diseases caused by contaminated water.

This spring’s charity kit is a collaborative effort created by over 20 of the product designers at Scrap Girls. Each designer donated their design time and talents to the project. Syndee Nuckles, a product designer, said, "I have always wanted to do more in the way of giving back but haven't been able to really spare a dime in recent years. But I can help, thanks to Scrap Girls. I can feel good about doing something that normally I would not be able to do."

In addition, for the first time Scrap Girls customers pitched in by helping pick the theme, title, and color palette for the kit. The heritage style of “Simpler Times” is perfect for using with historic family photos as well as stylized photos from smartphone apps like Hipsamatic and Instagram. It can be purchased and downloaded from the Scrap Girls Boutique.

And though I’ve not made a digital layout for QUITE some time, I decided to make a page to show you how gorgeous this kit is! I think it worked perfectly to preserve this happy memory of our New Years! There are many elements and bits you’re not seeing in the preview jpg’s of this kit - I had a hard time choosing. So, I encourage you to visit Scrapgirls to browse and buy or simply donate - it’ll be a great way to make a difference today!

Friday, April 12, 2013

I saw this pretty teacup on Graphics Fairy and simply had to try out a technique I've seen to make a card on the 3D side. Firstly, I need to say thank you Karen, from Graphics Fairy for all your lovely images. Please be sure to stop over and leave some ♥ for her - comment love - its better than gold! She has a lovely lily illustration for download today!

Here is the card I created using the teacup image:

The background is actual wallpaper, once again. The sentiment is one I had my Silhouette Cameo write for me using the Sketch Pens. I made a batch of 6 of these, 3 wound up being Happy Mother’s Day while the other three were a Happy Birthday, Wishing You Happiness and Get Well.

It took me QUITE a bit of time to prep this image for a refined cut (one FULL hour of lip biting concentration). Sometimes a trace in the Sil software can be a bit clunky and often leaves white edges or the image comes out a little out of line. I’m sure this could be due just to me, but at any rate I get a bit perfectionist at this point… I took great care to snug all the ‘nodes’ into the very edges of the image so there are no white gaps. Then I selected a few of the flowers and made partial cuts so they stand out from the paper

I did a print and cut of the teacup onto white cardstock. I used a VersaMarker Watermark Pen to highlight the blossoms that “stand out” and then I embossed them with a clear embossing powder. I flipped the image over and fixed foam tape in various places, careful not to put it over the cut sections. THEN I used a sharp instrument (toothpick) to poke the petals out from the back. At this point I placed it on my card. I thought the white bow was the final touch my card needed.

Today I’m doing something different as an experiment - I’m offering this file for download if you make a donation of ANY amount (yep 10 cents or more haha) to offset my supplies and time OR- if you take the time to email me and request it for free at lalalime at hot mail dot com (written this way to not accumulate spam) Please write “lilac teacup” in the subject line. This file is a .studio file for Silhouette SD or Cameo. Please do NOT directly share this file, rather have your friends email me for their own copy. Enjoy!

Monday, April 08, 2013

My friend Rachel has had me build her some custom greeting cards lately and I jump at the chance because it pushes me to be creative. She wanted to thank a local business for a small kindness, and she requested a tabby cat - grey, if possible because there was one there while she was waiting. I said I would see what I could do.

I say YAY for Graphics Fairy - she always comes to my rescue with just the perfect images. I mean what are the chances of finding a GREY tabby cat? So, I brought the image into my photoshop and cropped the edges on it first to remove a bit of a drop-shadow then I saved it, brought it into my Silhouette software and traced it. Please credit Graphics Fairy and even visit her blog too when you use this image!!! She is so generous to provide these incredible graphics at no cost. I’m linking up with the Brag Monday #182 with this project.

The Tabby Cat print and cut sheet is all set up for a sheet of Letter Size paper - be sure to tweak your settings in your printer and check it reflects this in your Silhouette software as well. This will print and cut 4 cats on one page.

I designed and cut the tag next and the inner circle. I used some foil cardstock. You could use regular if you did not have foil and then stamp it silver, or perhaps paint it with silver nail polish. I scoop nail polish at thrifts and yard sales for re-coloring embellishments because there are wonderful colors for pennies. I actually used my Silhouette to “write” the greeting in sketch pen and I’ll include the “hello” and “with thanks” sentiments. They are sized to fit nicely in the charm and all pieces fit a 1/4 fold card nicely. I did fill the lettering in with a black PaperMate gel pen - I ♥ these pens, they are smooth and bold.

Note: It takes a bit of “grouping” and “un-grouping” to put the writing on the tag and keep everything in place. If you’re a newbie it may be very confusing. The simplest way I can explain is to do this: To write and cut the inner circle - the sentiment then the cut do this:

position the inner tag where you want it on the matt in the software

ungroup the two pieces (Ctrl + u)

select the circle and drag it off of the cutting area

load your cardstock into the Silhouette machine

insert your Silhouette Sketch Pen in the holder - set the Cut Settings to “Silhouette Sketch Pens” then choose “cut” do NOT remove the paper at this time.

next, go up to the undo button or use Ctrl + z until both pieces are together again. now, take select the sentiment and move it off of the cutting area.

set the Cut Settings to “plain cardstock” and then replace the Sketch Pen with your blade, adjusted to the “3” mark.

cut the tag. Voila!

Now you are able to close your file if you are done - when you do and the program asks you if you want to “save the changes” before closing choose NO!

My method might be backwards to other peoples, but it works for me. I like the freedom to create my own sentiments, snugged in perfectly to my projects. I find stamps lovely but somewhat confining. That’s just the designer boss in me haha!

The designer paper is Tan Wag Pattern “Motif” by Recollections from Michaels.

The final touch is adding some Glossy Accents to the eyes. It makes the eyes shine, like a real cat’s would.

Here are the cutting files for this fun cat card. I’d love it if you might consider a donation toward my time and effort. It all gets ploughed back into supplies. I don’t have an official “job” so every bit is very appreciated. I ♥ to keep things forever ‘FREE’ for you here if possible.

Friday, April 05, 2013

Giveaway is Sponsored by Precious Gem and Oh! My Heartsie Reviews: The following is a review of these lovely candles and is what interested me in being part of promoting them today:

“I wanted to try soy candles and contacted Precious Gems Candles, they were gracious to send me my choice scent of Hibiscus Cooler an "infusion iced tea with lime and a sprig of cilantro". It is wonderful, it has a very fragrant scent of a Hibiscus and considered a luxury candle. When you burn down the candle it will reveal a small packet where you will find your gem inside a tiny glass vial wrapped in plastic, that is safe for your surprise. It could be a pearl, ruby, topaz, emerald, amethyst, sapphire, peridot, diamond or many other possibilities. Now, for the opportunity to win one of these Precious Candles just follow the directions in the Rafflecopter. But if you cannot wait to win you can visit their site and order some of these wonderful candles. Precious Gem Candles “

Disclosure: I received no financial compensation for this product review. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. The Life of Mrs Miles is participating in this event but I am not responsible for prize delivery.

Thursday, April 04, 2013

Though I had a lovely time away over Easter and Spring Break, it is wonderful to be home again, semi-unpacked and back in my craft room. I have a few cards owing out and am working through them. My sister Nina encouraged me to “marry” this need with a challenge by Tuesday Morning Sketches. This week’s challenge is sponsored by Cas-ual Friday Stamps who are providing a $25 gift certificate for some lucky winner. Thank you for the opportunity!

I’m afraid all the designer paper is “scraps” and therefore I cannot give tribute. The stamp is one I treated myself to over spring break - it’s “House With Plant” by Hero Arts. I noticed Michaels carries several very VERY nice Hero Arts stamps, sure wish I lived closer to a city - just at times like this. The sentiment is part of a Katie and Co stamp.

I stamped directly onto some designer paper and then I painted bits in using my pearlescent paints.

I leave you with signs of spring from my little corner of the world, and words of inspiration:

After the rigours of winter,

Oh, the pleasure that colour can bring!

Transparent and gold, a joy to behold;

Quite suddenly - it’s Spring!

Song of Solomon 2:11-13

The winter is over; the rains have stopped;in the countryside the flowers are in bloom.

This is the time for singing;the song of doves is heard in the fields.

Figs are beginning to ripen;the air is fragrant with blossoming vines.